PEEL: TOP BLOKE, IT’S OFFICIAL!

John Peel was presented with an OBE (Order of the British Empire) for his services to broadcasting and music by PRINCE CHARLES at Buckingham Palace yesterday.

Peel – real name John Ravenscroft – who has been a DJ on Radio 1 since its launch in 1967, has had a career that has spanned DJing in Texas in the early 60s (he was at the press conference in Dallas in November 1963 when LEE HARVEY OSWALD was accused of the assasination of JFK) through pirate radio in the 60s to the formation of the BBC’s first dedicated-pop station. He’s been at the forefront of music through psychedelia, prog rock, and punk, championing everyone from CAPTAIN BEEFHEART and THE FALL to SHEENA EASTON.

There have been various moves to sideline Peel, particularly during Radio 1’s “dark ages” in the 80s, though in the new regime instituted by previous station controller MATHEW BANNISTER, Peel’s show is now more or less guaranteed.

“My dad always thought I was a bit of a dickhead. I guess he’d be really proud so it’s for him really and my mum,” Peel said after receiving the award.

The John Peel OBE show is on Radio 1 Tuesday to Thursday at 10.10 until midnight; his weekend show HOME TRUTHS is on Radio 4 at 9 am.